What if Kidō Butai were at Midway?
I ran a search and didn't this question; sorry if already posted.The anniversary of the Battle of Midway is almost here and I wondered if the IJN had managed to get the Pearl Harbor attack group...
View ArticleRe: What if Kidō Butai were at Midway?
I'm sure that if you keep adding ships and squadrons to the IJN force there will be some point at which they will win. There is also the luck factor. The US could have arrived with all three air wings...
View ArticleRe: What if Kidō Butai were at Midway?
And if the Japanese win, the war might last six more months in the Pacific The US is going to be training new pilots and building new fighters while Japan slowly grinds down their own pilots. On the...
View ArticleRe: What if Kidō Butai were at Midway?
Steve Crandell wrote:I'm sure that if you keep adding ships and squadrons to the IJN force there will be some point at which they will win. There is also the luck factor. The US could have arrived...
View ArticleRe: What if Kidō Butai were at Midway?
I am not proposing that a Japanese victory @ Midway will win them the war; even if they were able to sink the 3 US CVs, IMO at best the Pacific War is extended by 6 months to a year. But I do believe...
View ArticleRe: What if Kidō Butai were at Midway?
SaintsWillWin wrote:I am not proposing that a Japanese victory @ Midway will win them the war; even if they were able to sink the 3 US CVs, IMO at best the Pacific War is extended by 6 months to a...
View ArticleRe: What if Kidō Butai were at Midway?
Kitsune wrote: On the plus side, might actually get the Bearcat in combat.And the Skyraider
View ArticleRe: What if Kidō Butai were at Midway?
SaintsWillWin wrote:I am not proposing that a Japanese victory @ Midway will win them the war; even if they were able to sink the 3 US CVs, IMO at best the Pacific War is extended by 6 months to a...
View ArticleRe: What if Kidō Butai were at Midway?
With more flight decks and aircraft they could have used some carriers to attack Midway, and keep others to use only against enemy carriers. They get more CAP too!Which carriers would you use to...
View ArticleRe: What if Kidō Butai were at Midway?
Steve Crandell wrote:SaintsWillWin wrote:I am not proposing that a Japanese victory @ Midway will win them the war; even if they were able to sink the 3 US CVs, IMO at best the Pacific War is extended...
View ArticleRe: What if Kidō Butai were at Midway?
Shokaku was not going to play the violin by Midway. If we give the IJN a complete victory there, that obviously changes things drastically not just in terms of material but also moral. Zo could have...
View ArticleRe: What if Kidō Butai were at Midway?
Remember Nimitz's orders to Fletcher and Spruance - be guided by the principle of calculated risk. In other words, don't even risk the carriers if you cannot do more damage to the Japanese than you...
View ArticleRe: What if Kidō Butai were at Midway?
I agree that in my scenario Midway was not the place to go against the IJN with a 2:1 dis-advantage in carriers. Other than being another notch on Japan's victory belt, the biggest effect of losing...
View ArticleRe: What if Kidō Butai were at Midway?
The US didn't evacuate Wake. Why would Midway be any different? Who knows, maybe the Midway defenders will pull out a surprise like Wake when they surprised the Japanese during the first invasion of...
View ArticleRe: What if Kidō Butai were at Midway?
I agree, with six fleet CVs Nimitz backs out. Midway however is still reinforced and fights it out. However it seems unlikely that Guadalcanal can occur; I would guess more carrier raids against...
View ArticleRe: What if Kidō Butai were at Midway?
Kitsune wrote:And if the Japanese win, the war might last six more months in the Pacific The US is going to be training new pilots and building new fighters while Japan slowly grinds down their own...
View ArticleRe: What if Kidō Butai were at Midway?
Even if not for nukes - should Nazis fall in 1945 like they did, Japanese would still loose Manchuria in August, before nukes were dropped.
View ArticleRe: What if Kidō Butai were at Midway?
Cody2 wrote:The US didn't evacuate Wake. Why would Midway be any different? Who knows, maybe the Midway defenders will pull out a surprise like Wake when they surprised the Japanese during the first...
View ArticleRe: What if Kidō Butai were at Midway?
Cody2 wrote:The US didn't evacuate Wake. Why would Midway be any different? Who knows, maybe the Midway defenders will pull out a surprise like Wake when they surprised the Japanese during the first...
View ArticleRe: What if Kidō Butai were at Midway?
If I remember correctly, there were issues with refueling that held back the relief mission. The Midway invasion force was smaller than the number of dug in Marines at Midway. Wonder how that would...
View Article
